Category: In the News

By Curt Detjen, president and CEO Last week, eight people were killed, including six women of Asian descent, in Atlanta. This tragic incident again brings the issue of racism to a broader light, and highlights how important it is we create a welcoming and accepting community for ALL. Much of the recent public conversations around […]

Walt Zerrenner makes the Fox Cities a better place to live. Walt and his late wife Aline (pictured above) attended the first Memory Café at the Appleton Atlas Coffee Mill in 2012. They had such a positive experience that Walt joined the Fox Valley Memory Project (FVMP) Executive Coordinating Committee. Walt and the committee worked […]

War heroes march in Kaukauna parade, 1918. One of many photos restored and archived at the Kaukauna Public Library, thanks to a grant from the new Kaukauna Local History Collection Fund. The Kaukauna Area Historical Society will be able to help preserve Kaukauna’s history forever, thanks to a $34,000 bequest from the estate of the […]

March 8 marks International Women’s Day. There is some discord as to the first celebration of a “Women’s Day,” but 1975 was recognized as International Women’s Year, which then moved to International Women’s Day celebrated on March 8. From celebrating in over 100 countries to an official holiday in more than 25, International Women’s Day […]

By Carolyn Desrosiers, Community Engagement Manager We’re excited to announce our Community Foundation’s Bright Idea Fund has awarded six new grants to nonprofit organizations striving to improve the quality of life in the Fox Valley region. This fund combines dollars from endowments established by generous donors to address ever-changing community needs in Outagamie, Calumet, Waupaca […]

When you want to make change for young women, who better to do it than the young women themselves? Girl-Powered Giving, an initiative by the Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region, empowers local high school girls to voice the issues affecting them directly and extend a helping hand to fellow girls in the Fox […]

Last month I shared a message of support for our nonprofit partners. Your community foundation and our region are supported by a strong and knowledgeable team that is always paying close attention to evolving community needs. In the coming months, you will hear more from this team as part of our commitment to keep you […]

Linda Dums, For USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Published in The Post-Crescent on Oct. 8, 2016) For the last 16 years, Kaukauna students in third, fourth and fifth grades have been experiencing cultural arts, thanks to the Walsh Family Fund. And even though Marian Walsh died last fall, her husband Joe is continuing the mission they began. […]

Board member engagement is critical for nonprofit success. The million-dollar question is “What exactly is the role of the board?” Is it surprising to learn the role of the board may not always be clear to nonprofit board members? Is the role of the board of directors to be actively engaged in fund development activities? […]

The SECURE Act, which stands for Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement, took effect Jan. 1, 2020, and changes rules governing retirement plans, including provisions relevant to making charitable gifts from an Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA). Under the SECURE Act, a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) remains a terrific way to make a tax-free gift […]

Storytelling has long been a cherished tradition within communities and cultures, serving as a means of passing down knowledge, values and history. For elder women, in particular, storytelling holds a special significance, offering them a powerful tool for self-expression, empowerment and preserving their legacies. As an audio producer, I saw a wonderful opportunity to document […]